Town To Receive $726,781 For Storm, Sanitary Sewer Project

Town Salaries To Be Focus Of October 28 Public Work Session

by Michael Stanley Staff Writer

Of the $980,000 needed for a revamping of the storm and sanitary sewer system in Spencer, the Spencer Town Council was informed Monday that nearly 75 percent of the funding needed, or $726,000, would come the town's way in the form of a Disaster Recovery 2 grant administered by the Southern Indiana Development Commission, from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

Jesse Nelson of Umbaugh & Associates explained that while the town currently still owes money for a loan to the State Revolving Funding from 1997, he is currently attempting to set up the process with the state so that the new loan needed to fund the remainder of the project, $252,000, would not be needed until the 1997 loan is paid in full. Nelson also noted that in the event the state would work with Umbaugh and the town, no sewer rate increases for Spencer residents would be needed to help fund the project.

The council also scheduled a public hearing in regards to the storm and sanitary sewer rehabilitation project for 6:45 p.m. on Monday, November 16.

From the SDIC, Matt Sward also informed the council of Disaster Recovery 1 grant funding from OCRA in the amount of $39,408.38 for flood recovery from 2008. The council voted 3-0 to accept both DR1 and DR2 funding.

The council also announced that upon review of engineering firms, Indianapolis-based GRW was selected for the OCRA planning grant of $40,000 for the storm and sanitary sewer project.

In discussion with town employees about the need for boots for several workers, the council voted 3-0 for an additional allotment of $100 for each employee's purchase of new work boots.

The council also voted 3-0 to accept an ongoing agreement with the Rural Community Assistance Program.

In departmental reports, Spencer Town Marshal Richard Foutch received the blessing of the council to enroll newly hired officer Nathan Martin in the next class at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in January.

Foutch also noted that he and Spencer Assistant Town Marshal Rannix Tinsley had decided that officer Greg Melton would best fit the four-year COPS grant position, while officer Ed Westgate will fill the vacancy left by retired officer Joe Boler.

Sewer Department Superintendent Shelley Edwards later informed the council of the disposal of 80,000 gallons of sludge to Steve Grimes with Abencs to be used for the seeding of a plant.

The council also scheduled a work session for Wednesday, October 28, beginning at 6 p.m. at the law offices of Hickam & Lorenz for the purpose of discussing wages and salaries of town employees.

The Spencer Town Council will holds its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November 2 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Municipal Building.